There is no coincidence that we, the church, are fully utilizing the technology and resources that the world was already using. With the church buildings closed, we have been given the opportunity to step up and be the church. Yes, there are some who continuously defy the guidelines for social distancing and gathering as they continue to worship in their church buildings. But as Christians, I believe that the time has come for us to get outside of the four walls and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world! And just as I have been involved in so many worship experiences, there are some people who never go to church and are now hearing the Word of God without the fear of judgment or rejection by some 'good Christian folks'. Now is the time to show the world what it really means to be a Christian.
There is no coincidence that we are celebrating Resurrection, one of the most important, if not the most important day in our religious calendar in the middle of a pandemic. But the amazing thing is that there are twelve major religious holidays this month between five major religions; Christianity, Judaism, Muslim, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and Temples are closed all over he world. And the faithful are scrambling to come up with new and inventive ways to worship and serve God. Maybe God is trying to tell us something.
I believe that God is telling us that it is time for us to live out our faith. Every major religion in the world has an equivalent to the Golden Rule; 'Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you'. During these trying times we must reach out to one another with help, encouragement, and support.
I believe that God is telling us that our faith is not trapped in traditions and rituals. Our worship and our services must honor God in ways that are meaningful to us. Our offerings of praise can be found in the everyday experiences in our daily lives. We serve God when we pick up groceries or run an errand for a neighbor. And we serve God when we wear a mask and practice social distancing, not just to protect us from the germs of other, but also to protect others from our germs.
And I believe that God is telling us that it's not really about what religion we practice, but it's all about our relationship with God, no matter what name that we give God. As Christians, we see God as a part of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In John 10:16 Jesus said, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." I believe that at this time God is calling for the flocks to come together in one voice in worship and service to the Great I AM.
We are living in unprecedented times. The entire world is under attack by COVID-19, an unseen enemy seeking kill and destroy the lives of so many people. But we have had an unseen enemy among us all of the time. This enemy also roams the earth seeking to kill, steal, and destroy the lives of many people. We have not sought to destroy the latter enemy, but have actually embraced it, even though we knew its purpose. Now is the time to destroy both enemies.
Humanity has been given a chance to get it right. This is our "Noah's Ark" moment. When this is over, will we start anew and live out our faith as we care for and love each other through our worship, words, and actions? Or will we go back to business as usual? We need to choose wisely, because we may not be given another chance to get it right.